Hotel FRANQ
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Hotel Details
Location
Antwerp
Belgium, Europe
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Expert Review: Hotel FRANQ
Hotel FRANQ, Antwerp: A Michelin Key Selected Oasis of Luxury and Elegance
Hotel FRANQ in Antwerp, Belgium, a distinguished Michelin Key Selected property, consistently earns high praise for its blend of historic charm, modern luxury, and exceptional service. Housed in a beautifully converted neoclassical bank building, the hotel offers a sophisticated and tranquil retreat in the heart of the city.
1. Overall Rating & Sentiment
Guests widely regard Hotel FRANQ as an excellent and luxurious destination, frequently describing it as beautiful, stylish, clean, and comfortable. The sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, with many guests highly recommending it for a European vacation or city break and expressing a strong desire to return. It's recognized as a "Relais & Chateaux gem" that delivers a delightful and very lovely experience overall.
2. Key Highlights
Guests consistently rave about the hotel's stunning conversion from a historic bank, with its impressive lobby featuring marble pillars and velvet sofas, and the original vault now serving as a wine cellar and gym. The exceptional, personalized service stands out, making guests feel welcomed and attended to. Its prime, yet quiet, central location, coupled with modern design and amenities, including a Michelin-starred restaurant, are also frequently highlighted as major draws.
3. Room Quality
The 38 rooms and suites at Hotel FRANQ are described as spacious, relaxing, clean, and comfortable, offering a sophisticated yet understated ambiance. The decor is minimalist, featuring pale wood flooring, crisp white linens, stone-tiled bathrooms, and French windows, often accented with colorful textiles. Rooms are well-equipped with high-end amenities, including air conditioning, mini-bars, laptop-compatible safes, Bluetooth sound systems, flat-screen TVs, Nespresso machines, Marshall speakers, bathrobes, slippers, and complimentary Clarins bath products. Some accommodations boast unique features like wood-beamed ceilings or views over a courtyard patio, while attic suites offer large slanted windows for city rooftop views.
4. Dining Experience
The dining experience at Hotel FRANQ is a significant highlight, centered around the on-site Restaurant FRANQ, which holds one Michelin star (as of 2024). Chef Tim Mulleniere prepares French-Belgian style dishes, with a tasting menu that impresses guests with its varied and gourmet offerings, from specialty gourmet fries to international delicacies. The restaurant's wine list is extensive, and the sommelier's recommendations are highly regarded. Breakfast is frequently lauded as "exceptional" and "wonderful," with a generous selection of pastries, breads, eggs, cold cuts, and fruits, served directly to the table rather than as a buffet. The hotel also offers room service from its restaurant for lunch and dinner from Wednesday to Saturday. Locally-sourced breakfast options, including vegetarian and vegan fare, are available.
5. Service & Staff
The staff at Hotel FRANQ consistently receives excellent feedback, described as welcoming, attentive, exceptional, professional, helpful, friendly, and polite. Guests note that the staff goes out of their way to ensure a comfortable stay, offering advice and making personalized gestures, such as welcome drinks and calls to inform about city events. Bartenders are specifically praised for being attentive and engaging.
6. Location & Accessibility
Hotel FRANQ boasts an excellent and charming central location in Antwerp, situated on a quiet street. It's conveniently located just 400 meters from major attractions like the main shopping street Meir, Groenplaats, and the Cathedral of Our Lady, and 500 meters from Rubenshuis. The Grote Markt and local cafes and restaurants are also within a short walking distance. The hotel is near an underground station, enhancing its accessibility. For active guests, bicycle rental is available, and the hotel offers private parking on-site for a fee of €34 per night. An airport shuttle service is also available for a surcharge. The property also provides various accessibility features, including wheelchair-accessible parking, lounges, restaurants, and paths of travel.
7. Value & Pricing
While offering a luxury experience, guests generally find Hotel FRANQ to provide good value, especially during low-season periods. High-season prices are noted to reflect the hotel's elegance and amenities. A full breakfast incurs an additional charge, typically around EUR 28 per person. Guests should also factor in a city tax of EUR 3.39 per person, per night, and the cost of private parking if utilized.
8. Common Complaints
While guest feedback is overwhelmingly positive, a few minor points of criticism have been noted. The on-site gym, housed in the former bank vault, is sometimes described as rather dark and small. Additionally, while cleanliness is generally praised, one review mentioned the room's cleanliness not being up to par during a Christmas stay, though this appears to be an isolated incident amidst consistent praise. The private parking, while a convenience, is considered pricey for Antwerp at €34 per night.
